CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - Columbia volleyball won its second
straight match with a gutsy 3-1 victory over Harvard Friday night. The Lions
pulled out clutch wins in extra points in the first and final sets of the
evening, defeating the Crimson by scores of 27-25, 19-25, 25-18, 28-26.

Columbia started out on top in the first set and held its
lead up to an 11-11 tie, when a back-and-forth battle broke out. The next 24
points were scored relatively evenly, resulting in 12 more ties up to a 25-all
set that was forced into extra points. The Lions showed their dominance,
finishing things off with a kill by first-year Atlanta Moye-McLaren followed by
a service ace by junior Colleen Brennan to secure the win.

The second set was also close, as Columbia once again broke
out following a 9-9 tie to build up to a 14-10 lead. Harvard outscored the
Lions 5-2 over the next seven points to retie the score, 15-all. The teams
remained neck-and-neck up to a 19-19 tie, until the Crimson surged with a 6-0
run to take the win and even the series, 1-1.

In the third set, the Lions started out on top, but after a
3-3 tie, Harvard scored two straight and took over. Columbia struggled to find
its way back to the top, calling a timeout after the Crimson built its lead to
14-9. A kill by Caitlin Brenton sparked a 7-0 Columbia run as the Lions roared
into the lead, taking over 17-15. The Crimson responded with a kill by Caroline
Walters to make it a one-point set, but that would be the closest they would
come the rest of the way as Columbia outscored Harvard 8-2 to take a 2-1 series
advantage.

The fourth and final set of the night may have been the
toughest as the Lions and the Crimson kept pace with one another the entire
way. Following a 19-19 tie, Columbia pushed ahead with a 3-1 run that included
two kills by first-year Bailey Springer. But Harvard held on, rallying to even
the set, 25-25. McLaren smacked a kill to put the Lions ahead, but Taylor
Docter responded with one of her own for the Crimson to make it 26-26. A
Harvard serving error followed by a kill by senior Megan Gaughn completed the
win as the Lions took the set and won the match.

Gaughn led the way for the Lions with 20 kills to go with
nine digs, while Brennan set a new career-high with 57 assists. Denise Dearman
also had a solid attacking day as she recorded 11 kills.

The Lions will look to roll at Dartmouth tomorrow night for
a 5 p.m. match.